The Ebola virus disease is very infectious diseases and it is spread through
the close or physical contact with the infected patients. The physical contacts
which leads to the spread of Ebola virus are bodily fluids, blood, faces and
vomit. The blankets or the clothes used by the infected person may also lead to
the spread of virus.

It is also noted that the Ebola virus has also been detected in the breast
milk, urine and the semen. In the person recovered from the Ebola virus
infection, the virus can persist least 70 days in the semen of the person. One
study suggested that it can persist more then 90 days. So, it is also essential
to take the adequate precautions even after the recovery from the Ebola
infection.

Study also suggest that the saliva and tears may also carry some risk. Study
also suggest that the saliva carry the virus at severe stage of illness. There
is not evidence of finding the live virus from sweat.

Study shows that the Ebola virus can also spread indirectly, by contact with
the contaminated surfaces and the objects. The risk of transmission from these
surfaces is very low and it can be minimize further by cleaning and disinfecting
the objects.

Not an airborne virus

The
Ebola virus disease is not an airborne infection and can't spread through the
air.

This mode of transmission has not been observed during extensive studies of the Ebola virus over several decades.

The spread of virus through coughing and sneezing is very rare. The
pidemiological data emerging from the outbreak are not consistent with the
pattern of spread seen with airborne viruses, like those that cause measles and
chickenpox, or the airborne bacterium that causes tuberculosis.

Theoretically, wet and bigger droplets from a heavily infected individual, who
has respiratory symptoms caused by other conditions or who vomits violently,
could transmit the virus – over a short distance – to another nearby person.
This could happen when virus-laden heavy droplets are directly propelled through
coughing or sneezing and transmitted to a healthy person.

But according to the WHO study there is no document that supports such
transmission method.

No evidence for mutation of this virus

Still there is no evidence of the mutation of Ebola virus. But there is
speculation that the Ebola virus might mutate into a form that could easily
become airborne.

To stop the Ebola outbreak, well-know protective and preventive measures needs
to be implemented on a much large scale.